Data East Star Wars High End Restoration

[Strangeways]

Just a quick update on this restoration. Motors arrived and installed. Testing the game I noticed that the +12V that the topper draws is affecting the Pinsound board with a Rottendog Power Supply. After a LOT of testing with this unique configuration, we have found that it is easier to draw the 12V from the 18V flasher circuit off the Power Supply. So the 12VDC is not affected by the Pinsound board. The booster is available on the Pinsound site ;

https://www.pinsound.org/shop/index.php?id_product=41&controller=product&id_lang=1

[ktm450]

Missed this thread, looks amazing, very nice work mate 

[4_amusement_only]

 It sounds like what usually happens when one modifies from the original design - problems causing more problems. Will this additional testing and fixing of modded components ultimately cost more to the client or have you just absorbed it? Still willing to take on modified restos in the future or more apprehensive?

[Strangeways]

It sounds like what usually happens when one modifies from the original design - problems causing more problems. Will this additional testing and fixing of modded components ultimately cost more to the client or have you just absorbed it? Still willing to take on modified restos in the future or more apprehensive?

Mods are not part of the pricing or absorbed into the initial cost of the machine. This machine has had a number of mods that have significantly affected the stability of the machine. My process is to have the game 100% working and stable before adding any mods. I then will add a mod and then test. If there's an issue, I need to rectify. and then move on to the next mod. In this case, there were issues with the Pinsound (factory issues) that took a while to rectify. The factory power supply had an unstable +%5 with all the mods. The replacement Rottendog +12V could not even run the Pinsound with the Topper installed. The +12V runs the colour DMD, speaker panel lights, topper and Pinsound. So even adding one mod can cause an issue, but adding 4 mods just is not going to work. Not even a dedicated power supply providing +12V directly to the Pinsound will work, as you need the +5V from the Game's power supply - not the external. So it gets really complicated. For this reason, the decision was made to use the +18V for the Pinsound board as the voltage will be rectified to +12V.

If I ever had to do the same configuration, it would be easier as a lot of the process on this game simply has never been done on another game. But I've kept a diary on the process. This is a "one of a kind" game which several collector's have commented that it looks far better than the new Stern Star Wars.

I have several more games with similar mods in the pipeline. I'm happy to install the mods, but the time I spend on them is a separate cost.

[4_amusement_only]

Far out, sounds more difficult than the actual resto.

[Strangeways]

At the end of the road for this restoration. Before the final update and pictures, here's a breakdown of the technical sides of things. The hardest part of the resto was to find the right balance of mods. This is the heaviest modded machine I've done, and there was a lot of time, effort and troubleshooting. The main issue was the 12V line. It was hogged by the colour DMD, speaker panel LEDs, OCD PCB, Topper and the Pinsound board. Researching the issues had me following a number of possible solutions, and one was to install an independent Power Supply JUST for the pinsound. That didn't work, as you still need the +5V from the machine's power supply. The factory Power Supply simply could not handle the load as it was - and you HAVE TO use the +5v from the PSU. It will not work from an external source. The 12V circuitry on the pinsound board gives us a clue, and it is possible to use the +18V from the power supply. The clever guys at Pinsound must have known this, as they had a "booster" cable that tapped into the 18V line. The Rottendog power supply was left in the game, and the Pinsound board and the speaker LEDs could be run from the booster cable. Now we have PERFECT sound. Beforehand, the sound was cutting out and the interactive topper was causing issues. Now it is all perfect.

So there's a LOT going on in the headbox, as per the photos. Cable management is not perfect yet, but it is getting there..
NV RAM installed and the latest ROM. Custom sound package. Very busy in the headbox.






Under the hood ;

Everything is rebuilt and I had to replace the lamp sockets in some areas and rewire some sections. Overall, very happy.





New flipper coils and kits mandatory for this level of restoration.


Mains inlet section rebuilt with new, stronger fuse holders. Cleaned up the cover and installed a new warning label !

[Strangeways]

A couple of ideas that we ended up using ;
Stern Siderails - We had them powdercoated black, along with the door, legs and lockdown bar. I had to slightly modify the cabinet to accommodate the siderails. Very pleased with the result. The screws I used are factory Torx screws which are difficult and expensive to source.


I used the Mantis cabinet protectors ( concealed ) - and they installed easy and are thicker than other metal protectors. Not a hope in hell for the legs to get near the cabinet.



Here is a more detailed photo of the clearance, and I also used red leg bolt washers with original repro style Data East Legbolts.

[Strangeways]

Here is the game on test. At this point, everything is activated and the game is play tested. I ended up having the game on for 3 days straight - 12 hours. Played a game or two every break, and the only issue I had to deal with was the kickback switch.



Pleas note - This is the factory translite - it is NOT the translite that will be installed in the game once the owner has received it. It has a hole in the middle. Redirect your attention to the topper. It is simply stunning !

Here are a couple of bling photos outside - the only 15 minutes of sunshine in 2 weeks - so sorry if they seem repetitive. Notice the side mirrors are not installed - that will be the last thing I do before packing it for delivery.





The three custom toys I installed - Darth Vader's ship, and X-Wing Fighter and the other ship..




Pop Bumpers with custom art ;

[Strangeways]

Fast Forward to yesterday.. This is how you pack a high end restoration.

Rubber foam to protect the headbox from the siderails. Cardboard to protect the new playfield glass. Plastic wrap the entire machine - every centimeter. Use heavy tape to affix a cardbox bade so you can stand the game on it's end. Use heavy duty bubble wrap. Then more plastic wrap and then more tape. Then use an old Stern factory box. Perfect fit ! Use the cardboard leg boxes. Fill with foam and anything else you can find to protect the game..



Last but not least, I strap the cardboard box up and then affix shipment details. The Removalist turns up, and gets the surprise of his life. This is how it should be done !

[Strangeways]

I have had a lot of positive feedback on the game as I was working on it, and one of the mods was the OCD lighting kit. I have never really researched the OCD lighting kits out there, so after installation, I didn't notice anything different. I honestly didn't know what all the fuss was about. So I went about playing the game without noticing anything different. Then a customer popped in to pick up parts, and he saw the game in attract mode, and the FIRST thing he said was "How cool does that OCD LED Kit look".. My reply - "Yea, nice, isn't it.."



 



But it looks AMAZING all lit up and now with mirror blades. These were installed last, and here's a tip - ALWAYS leave them LAST. I have been raising and lowering the playfield for a while, and noticed scratches along the right side. BEFORE installing the mirror blades, I has a look at the area, and it was easy to see what was causing the problem - the metal guide located at the botton left and right sides of the playfield (a "slider"), was offset in the factory. So I removed it, and grinded back 2-3 mm - which made all the difference. Once I saw clearance between the playfield sides and the walls of the cabinet, I dropped it in for the last time.

[Strangeways]

Final bling photos.

First - I'd like to acknowledge the patience of the new owner. This is one of many games that has taken too long, but as I say to all pinheads waiting for their machine - "it will be worth the wait".
Second - Thanks to Tim and Stu for the cabinet and playfield work. This would not have the finish that it does now without your help.
Last - This is the best resto I've ever done. Thanks to the new owner who directed the project in this direction, it allowed me to put all my skills and patience to the test.


Completed game ;

[Pinballer]

Excellent work Nino, well done!

[4_amusement_only]

Looks great, well done

[ktm450]

WOW! Beautiful game, very nice work mate!

[pinnies4me]

Beautiful!